NIAGARA BOOTCAMP
Get your WSET Level 4 Unit D1 over six days of immersive learning
Hosted by Geoffrey Moss, Master of Wine
This unique Bootcamp format allows students from across North America and the world to complete their Unit D1 (Wine Production) in a condensed format. This Unit is the foundation for all other Diploma Units and must be taken before studying for other Units.
Unit D1 delves into the factors involved in wine production including the viticultural and winemaking decisions that impact a wine’s style, quality, and price.
Led by Master of Wine, Geoffrey Moss, this is the only Diploma program in North America taught by a Master of Wine in an efficient, intensive format that includes visits to leading wineries in the Niagara region.
Niagara
June 3rd – 8th 2025
Hosted by Geoffrey Moss MW
$3,495 CAD per person
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Click here to learn about our registration, payment, and cancellation policies.
COURSE OVERVIEW
There is one pre-course Zoom session held two months before the course. Five in-person course days take place at Niagara College, located at 135 Taylor Rd in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON.
The bootcamp takes place over 6 days as follows:
- The mornings of each of the first 4 days are spent in the classroom covering the theory topics related to Unit D1 curriculum such as the Grape Growing Environment, Vineyard Management, General Approaches to Winemaking, and Maturation, Finishing, and Bottling.
- The afternoons of each of the first 4 days are spent visiting Niagara wineries. Here, you will meet with grape growers, winemakers, and business managers; an invaluable opportunity to experience hands-on the theory applied in real world situations.
- The fifth day is a day off to review material and to prepare for the Unit D1 exam.
- The sixth and final day is for the Unit D1 exam, which ends by 12pm.
STUDY MATERIALS
All the WSET study materials are offered in an online format in English only. Furthermore, Fine Vintage provides you with documents that give you a weekly study road map and make recommendations of all supplementary study materials.
PRE-REQUISITES
To enroll in the program you must have already passed both the tasting and theory exams of the WSET Level 3 in Wines certification. You also need to have a high school diploma or ESL equivalent as a high degree of proficiency in written English is required to pass this course. The Diploma is a demanding program, and we discourage students from enrolling if they are not comfortable writing essays, have very little industry experience, and are not serious about dedicating a substantial amount of time to self-study. It is critical that you come to this intensive Bootcamp well-prepared having spent at least 100 hours of self-study prior to the in-person sessions, including reading the study material at least 3 times, taking notes on your reading, and reviewing your notes. We want to give all our students the best possible chance of success. Diploma graduates are typically leaders in the wine industry.
EXAM
Students are required to obtain a mark of 55% on the exam below:
Unit D1: 90-minute theory exam on Unit D1 Wine Production (3 – 5 multi-part, open-response theory questions). There is no tasting component in this exam.
PRICING
The total cost of the course is $3,495 Canadian dollars.
ABOUT THE BOOTCAMP
Pre-Course Zoom Session
This session will serve as an introduction to the general WSET Diploma programme followed by a focus on the Unit D1 curriculum and exam expectations. A link will be sent out a week before the Zoom session, and the session will also be recorded and shared with students for future reference.
Following the Zoom session, students will also be issued a mock theory exam assignment. These mock exams are an invaluable tool to gauge your study progress as well as provide helpful advice on exam answering technique. Students will have until Sunday, May 11th to submit their assignments for review and grading.
Day 1 – Introduction & The Growing Environment
This block begins with an introduction to the Growing Environment, focusing on such topics as the anatomy of the vine, the growth cycle of the vine, and the environmental factors that influence a vine’s growth.
In the afternoon, we will visit wineries in the Niagara region, including a welcome dinner at a benchmark winery.
Day 2 – Grape Growing Options & General Approaches to Winemaking
This session builds on the natural factors that influence how grapes grow by exploring the many techniques grape growers employ to achieve desired ripeness levels. Such factors include soil management, planting density, vine training & trellising, pest & disease control, and harvest options.
In the afternoon, we will return to the Niagara region for two more visits that will shed light on the morning’s lecture.
Day 3 – General Winemaking Options
Today we move from the vineyard to the winery with a morning focused on the general decisions a winemaker can implement to create a desired wine style, quality, and price.
In the afternoon, we will return to 2 more Niagara wineries to meet with winemakers who will share their experiences, providing you with a deeper understanding of the Unit D1 material.
Day 4 – Specific Winemaking Options
The in-person session culminates with a deeper exploration into the winemaking decisions relating to red, rosé, white, and sweet winemaking.
In the afternoon we will return to 2 more Niagara wineries to meet with winemakers who are experts in their field.
Day 5 – Free Day
Today is a free day to review your notes and to study for the Unit D1 exam the next day.
Day 6 – Exam
This day will begin at 10:00am with the 90-minute Unit D1 exam. After the exam, the course ends.
MEET YOUR HOST
Our WSET Level 4 D1 Bootcamp is guided by Master of Wine, Geoffrey Moss.
Geoffrey earned his Master of Wine in Fall 2020. He was awarded the prestigious Villa Maria Trophy for his outstanding knowledge of viticulture and the Robert Mondavi Winery Award for the best performance across all the theory papers in the MW exam. This is an extremely rare achievement.
His resumé includes working with Don Triggs at Culmina Family Estate Winery before leading the marketing team at Phantom Creek Estates.
Geoffrey founded Lithica Wine Marketing in 2019, a boutique agency that helps wineries develop effective, customer-centric business and marketing strategies. He runs the wine consulting business from Penticton in the heart of the Okanagan Valley along with Søren Wine. He is one of ten Masters of Wine in Canada.
Niagara
June 3rd – 8th 2025
Hosted by Geoffrey Moss MW
$3,495 CAD per person
Click here to learn about our registration, payment, and cancellation policies.
PAYMENT TERMS
Full payment is charged at the time of registration. Payment is non-refundable, but can be transferred once to another person or to a future course of the same type, if you contact us 14 days or more before the start date. In the rare event Fine Vintage has to cancel a course you will receive a 100% refund.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Included in the price is:
- 3-year registration with the WSET with full access to all Diploma study material
- 4 mornings of in-person classroom instruction by Master of Wine, Geoffrey Moss
- 4 afternoons of visits to Niagara wineries, including all winery visits, tastings, bus transportation to the wineries, and a welcome dinner on the first night.
- Unit D1 exam
Please note that students are responsible for arranging their own flights, accommodations, travel insurance, and meals outside of the bootcamp itinerary.
PLANNING TIPS
Before the bootcamp we will send you some useful pre-trip information to help you with your planning.
You’ll find advice on how to get there, tips on what to wear, other things to do in and around the region, hotel recommendations, and what you might like to read in advance.
WEATHER
Summer in the Okanagan valley is dry and sunny, with temperatures reaching above 30°C in the afternoon. Some evenings can get quite cool, so remember to bring an extra layer.
TESTIMONIALS
